Cyclic changes in composition and volume of the breast during the menstrual cycle, measured by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Summary. The volumes and spin‐lattice (T1) relaxation times of breast tissues and parenchymal water content were measured non‐invasively by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in eight healthy women during four to eight consecutive menstrual cycles. Total breast volume, and parenchymal volume, T1 relaxation time and water content were lowest between days 6 and 15. Between days 16 and 28, parenchymal volume, T1 relaxation time and water content rose sharply by 38·9%, 15·1% and 24·5%, respectively, and peaked after day 25. Within 5 days of the onset of menses, parenchymal volume fell sharply by 30·3%, while water content declined by 17·5%. Rising parenchymal volume in the second half of the menstrual cycle is not solely due to increased tissue water content and provides in vivo evidence for both growth and increased tissue fluid at this time.

Noninvasive functional optical spectroscopy of human breast tissue

“…Our results show a 48.3% increase in Hb and 28.1% increase in water concentration during the luteal phase, changes that are consistent with the physiological effects caused by ovarian hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, blood flow to the breast can increase by up to 50%; there is an increase in breast volume; and parenchymal water content changes by an average of 25% during the latter half cycle (24,25). Changes in scattering were 3-5% and not statistically significant.…”

“…MRI studies further suggest that fluctuations in endogenous hormones may alter menstrual-cycle patterns and impact breast cancer risk (23)(24)(25)(26). In addition, the phase of the menstrual cycle has been shown to influence mammographic accuracy and survival rates after tumor resection (27,28).…”

Menstrual Cycle–related Fluctuations in Breast Density Measured by Using Three-dimensional MR Imaging

“…Several studies have shown that mammographic density has a small, but not statistically signifi cant, increase in the luteal phase compared with the follicular phase (23)(24)(25)(26). MR imaging has been used to evaluate the changes of breast tissue and water content within the menstrual cycle (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16). Most studies have focused on evaluation of the effect of different physiologic phases on parenchymal enhancements ( 9,10,13,15 ), which is an important concern for accurate diagnosis of breast lesions.…”

“…It has been shown that the background tissue enhancements are lower in the follicular than in the luteal phase, and screening MR imaging is recommended to be performed during the follicular phase. Several studies have reported changes in breast tissue at MR imaging during a menstrual cycle (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16), including water and fat content ( 8 ), parenchymal enhancement ( 9,10,13,15 ), elasticity ( 11 ), water diffusion ( 12 ), breast volume (BV), and fi broglandular tissue volume (FV) ( 7,14,16 ).…”

“…As the fi rst step, factors that may affect density measurements, such as the timing during a menstrual cycle, need to be investigated. The variation of BV and FV in a menstrual cycle have been measured at MR imaging by using a small number of subjects, but the analyses did not take advantage of a wellestablished method for quantitative assessment ( 7,16 ). The purpose of this B reast tissues are known to respond to hormonal fl uctuation and show changes during the menstrual cycle ( 1 ).…”